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REACTION: DIFFICULT BUT HAPPY DAY

/noticias.info/ Home games simply don't come any bigger and having watched his side triumph, Avram Grant spoke with satisfaction over the achievement and about other emotions that came with the day.

It was a rollercoaster evening for all who care for Chelsea, from high optimism when Didier Drogba netted the opener, to concern when Liverpool levelled the away goal, to coming on strong again in extra-time, to nerves when the visitors scored once more in the closing minutes.

However for Grant himself and for Frank Lampard, successful from the penalty spot for the second goal, there was even more to think about.

The Chelsea manager revealed the decision to play his star midfielder had been taken after training the day before.

'Frank is a brave man because he was very close to his mother and what happened with him in the last days, it was not easy to take this decision, but he played well and is a little bit happy now.'

In addition to the penalty, Lampard played an important pass in the build-up to Drogba's first and contributed throughout until substituted deep into extra time with the game all but won.

Liverpool, Grant admitted, had tested Chelsea to the full.

'Rafa [Benitez] is a great manager, great tactics, and it was very difficult to play against him tactically. We had to think all of the time because they are very organised and clever in the movement.'

Benitez after the match spoke of his confidence when his team pulled the scores level at 1-1.

'We had control of the game and had two chances at the start of extra-time. In these games the small details make a difference. We were much better but then we conceded a second goal and the third finished the game.'

The Liverpool manager also revealed he was forced to take off 31-goal Fernando Torres due to a hamstring problem - but by then the visitors were already behind again.

'I understand now why Chelsea lost to Liverpool before in semi-finals,' continued Grant. 'This year they are an even better team because they have Torres and Babel and Benayoun who is a very good player in my opinion, so when we win against them it makes me very proud.

'To create history in this club in the first year as a manager, with all the difficulties we have had this year, means a lot to me. We stayed together and did things the way I like to do things, in a positive way. This is a time to say that everybody in the club has done good work.'

The praise must surely include the Stamford Bridge support which was at its very best on Wednesday evening, and also a manager who is now thriving despite intense scrutiny.

'Since day one there have been so many microscopes on me that I have become shorter!' he smiled.

'I understand in the beginning the criticism but I needed to prove more than others that my team knows how to play football and handle the difficult days - and we have created history today and we are still fighting for the league championship.

'It is strange two English teams in Moscow but it will be a good final. We have been playing better in the important games.'

Grant concluded on a personal note.

'It was not an easy day for me because I don't know if you know but it is the Holocaust Day in my country. I have the name of my grandfather and my father buried him with his own hands.

'My father is a survivor of the holocaust and he is the most optimistic and strong man I have ever seen. He buried his father, mother and sisters but he never looks at the past, only the future.

'It is not an easy day for me, but now it is a happy day.'


You can watch tonight's match in its entirety again on Chelsea TV from 11pm on Thursday, or log on to Chelsea Plus for the highlights package. notas_de_prensa_archivo